‘Put yourself in their hooves’: Tourists urged to reconsider riding donkeys in Santorini

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Donkeys have been used to ferry human cargo up Santorini’s notoriously steep steps for generations, but holidaymakers are being urged to think twice before riding mules on the Greek island, after some of the animals were found to have spinal injuries and saddle sores.

In a bid to improve conditions for the animals, The Donkey Sanctuary, a UK-based charity, has launched a new campaign called In Their Hooves, which urges visitors to rethink whether or not they accept rides on the beasts of burden.

The campaign is being supported by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), whose members disgorge as many as 17,000 passengers onto the island every day during summer.

More than two thirds of European cruise companies docking at Santorini are members of the CLIA; their passengers will be shown an animated video encouraging them not to accept rides on donkeys that show signs of injury, are overburdened, don’t have access to water and whose owners appear to be mistreating them.

The Donkey Sanctuary has also been working with the island’s authorities to promote better treatment of donkeys, and is training local enforcement officers to look out for signs of mistreatment.

“We hope visitors to Santorini are able to make informed decisions about the welfare of working equines they will see there,” said Barbara Massa, The Donkey Sanctuary’s regional director for Europe.

“We will continue to work with the municipality, providing training to equine health service providers and also the animal owners, all of whom are critical to improving the working conditions and practices on the island.”

According to CLIA, a number of cruise passengers have raised the alarm about the condition of Santorini’s donkeys.

Like Santorini itself, the island's donkeys have become increasingly popular with touristsCredit:
ISTOCK

“Over recent years we have had several complaints from cruise passengers about the way donkeys were being treated on islands such as Santorini: for example, where rides are offered on donkeys and mules that have been tethered for hours on end in the hot sun unable to access water,” said Tom Boardley, secretary general at CLIA Europe.

“We fully support The Donkey Sanctuary’s In Their Hooves Campaign and hope it will go some way to reassure our passengers that we care about animal welfare in destinations on our members’ cruises.”